The low rumble of the double bass slides up and down with the rise and fall of a tumult of waves to begin the piece. The dancers’ movements manifest a calm sea, storms, and the ebb and flow of the tide. Water’s qualities take on a form that parallels the evolution and modulation of human relationships—waves that are external as well as within oneself.
King created and maintains an all-female-identifying dance company in part to address the privileges that male-presenting dancers are accorded in the dance world, due to their rarity relative to women. She explains that in dance, men are seen as less dispensable than their female counterparts, and their opinions are valued more. To counter that, the creative and personal agency of each of Moonwater’s dancers are what make the company. The objective is an environment that empowers dancers through pay and recognition of their artistry.
Moonwater was in the midst of the creation process when the COVID-19 pandemic necessitated the transition to online rehearsals. The company continued to rehearse virtually a few times a week, generating movement individually in their homes from tasks under King’s direction.
Indeed, beyond the abstract depictions of torrents and waves, she said, “I feel very much like a human when I dance this piece.”
Fri-Sat 6/18-6/19, 8 PM, Fulton Street Collective, 1821 W. Hubbard, moonwaterdanceproject.com, $10-$30.
